Fluid pressure operated device for auger feeding granular or powdered material



Nov. 17, 1959 K s ETAL 2,913,145

, FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED DEVICE FOR AUGER FEEDING GRANULAR OR POWDERED MATERIAL- Filed April 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arraexvzys NOV. 17, 1959 HOPKINS ETAL 2,913,145

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED DEVICE FOR AUGER FEEDING GRANULAR OR POWDERED MATERIAL Filed April 25, 1958v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 17, 1959 F. L. HOPKINS ET 2,

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED DEVICE FOR AUG-ER FEEDING GRANULAR OR POWDERED MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 25, 1958 9 vmL u r A W a if \\\\U ME \Q w I u K 3 Q m A I w 0h E wv mlNdm INVENTORS [PA/VA L. HOPKINS /f/(WARO h. AXAfS ATIUF/I ZVS United States PRESSURE OPERATED DEVICE FOR AU- GER FEEDING GRANULAR OR POWDERED MATERIAL 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-16) Our invention relates generally to machines for filling containers with measured quantitiesof powdered or granular bulk material, and more particularly to such machines which employ a screw conveyor or auger for dispensing material from a supply hopper in given amounts dependent upon the number of revolutions of the feeding auger during each feeding cycle of the machine. 7

An important object of our invention is the provision of novel means for imparting rotation to the feeding anger of a container filling machine as set forth, and a novel arrangement, which drives the feeding anger at a predetermined rate of speed and which obviates the necessity of the usual clutch and brake mechanism normally used between the feeding auger and the drive motor therefor.

It is well known among those skilled in the art, that clutch and brake mechanisms are subject to wear, and that frequent adjustments need be made thereof to insure accurate dispensing of material to the containers therefor. Hence, to accomplish the above objective, we provide a fluid pressure operated motor and novel means whereby operation of the motor is controlled with a high degree of accuracy.

Another object of our invention is the provision of novel control means for said fluid motor and operatively coupled to the feeding auger to stop said motor and feeding auger precisely when the feeding auger has completed a given number of revolutions in a material feeding direction.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a control mechanism as set forth which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce, which may be quickly and easily adjusted to increase or decrease the number of feeding revolutions of the feeding auger in a feeding cycle thereof, and which is highly efficient in operation and durable in use.

, The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a container filling machine incorporating our invention, some parts being removed;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in front elevation and partly in section, taken substantially on the irregular line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, partly in front elevation and partly in section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, taken substantially on the irregular line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section :stanti'a llyon the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

' the fluid pressure circuit of our taken ;'sub- 'Fig. 6 is a dlagram of invention; and

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram.

* 2,913,145 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 1 indicates in its entirety a supporting frame structure including a pair of side frame members 2 and 3, a top mem .ber 4 and a front cross frame member 5. A bracket 6 is [rigidly mounted to the front of the frame structure 1 at the upper end thereof and carries a vertically disposed, elongated hopper 7 which is formed at its upper end portion ,to' provide a material inlet in the nature of an inclined chute 8 which enters the upper end portion of the hopper 7 laterally outwardly of the vertical axisof the hopper 7, and which is adapted to be connected to the discharge portion of a source of supply of material to be dispensed, such as a storage bin or the like, shown fragmentarily in Figs. 1 and 2 and indicated by the reference character 9. At its downwardly tapering lower end portion 10, the hopper 7 supports an axially downwardly projecting tubular discharge section or neck 11 which defines. a discharge pas-sage 12 from the interior of the hop- Iper 7.

j The lower end of the discharge passage 12 is normally closed by a pair of cooperating gate elements 13 and 14 that are provided with respective supporting arms 15 and 16 pivotally secured at their upper ends, as indicated at 17 and 18 respectively to the upper ends of laterally spacedsupporting arms 19 that are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to'the cross frame member 5. The gates 13 and 14 are adapted to be moved between their closed positions, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, and their open positions, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, by mechanism including a pair of lever elements 20'pivotally secured to the supporting arms 19, as at 21, a rigid link 22 connected at its lower end to one of the lever elements 20 and a solenoid 23 shown in dotted lines in 'Fig. 1 and encased in a housing 24 mounted on the frame structure 1. The armature of the solenoid 23 is suitably connected to the upper end of the rigid link 22 by a conventional bell crank mechanism 25. Spaced portions of the lever element 20 are pivotally connected to rigid links 26 and 27 that are respectively pivotally connected to the arms 15 and 16 of their respective gate elements 13 and 14. When the solenoid '23 is energized, the armature thereof swings the bell crank 25 in an upward direction to raise the link22 and swing the lever elements 20 in directions to open said gate plates 13 and 14. Deenergization of the solenoid 23 permits the gate elements 13 and 14 to move to their closed positions under the action of gravity or, if desired, suitable spring means, not shown, may be utilized to move the gate elements 13 and 14 to their closed positions. The gate elements 13 and 14, together with the mechanism for opening and closing the same do not in themselves comprise the instant invention. Hence, further detailed showing and description thereof are believed unnecessary. r

A pair of conventional bag holding members 28 and 29 are shown generally in Fig. 1 as being disposed below the gate elements 13 and 14 for the purpose of supporting a bag to be filled, such bag being shown by clotted lines and indicated by the reference character X.- Like the gate elements13 and 14, the bag holding elements 28 and 29 form no part of. the instant invention. Hence, for the sake of brev,1ty,-further detailed showing and descriptiontliereof 'are omitted. gA fe'eding auger 30 extendsaxially'of the hopper 7 and discharge passage 12, and includes an axial shaft 31 that .-lS journalled a't'its lower end in a spider supported bearing 32=atthelowerend of the discharge neck 11, the upper end of'the shaft 31 being direct-coupled to the drive shaft 33 of a fluid pressure operated motor 34 mounted on the bracket 6 inaxial alignment with the auger shaft 31. Asshown in Fig. 1,; the upper end of the shaft'31 is directcoupled to the lower end of the drive shaft 33 by means of a conventional shaft coupling element 35 having one other end portion 37 rigidly secured to the drive shaft 33.

The fluid pressure operated motor 34 is conventional in nature, and is of the type which can be utilized either as a motor or as a pump. The motor, in itself not comprising the instant invention, it is not believed necessary that the same be shown or described in detail. Ro'tary movement is imparted to the motor or drive shaft 33 m the desired direction of rotation, by fluid, such as water or oil, introduced under pressure to one side of the "motor 34 by a pump 38 through a conduit 39, see Fig. 6. The pump 38 is driven by an electric motor 40, and1s provided with a conduit 41 which extends to a reservoir 42 containing the fluid, indicated at Y in Fig. 6. The fluid Y, pumped through the motor 34, returns to the reservoir 42 through a pair of conduits 43 and 44 between which is interposed valve mechanism 45, said valve mechanism comprising a valve housing 46 and a spool valve element 47t hat is mounted for reciprocatory movement in the housing 46. For a purpose that will hereinafter become apparent, a conduit 48 is connected at one end to the valve mechanism 45 and at its other end to the conduit 39 by means of a T fitting 49, a conventional fluid restrictor valve 59 being interposed between the ends of the conduit 48. The valve mechanism 45 is operated by a solenoid 51 the armature 52 of which is operatively coupled to the spool valve element 47, and a coil compression spring 53. Energization of the solenoid 51 causes movement of the valve element 47 to its full line position of Fig. 6 against yielding bias of thespring 53, de-energization of the solenoid 51 permitting the spring 53 to move the valve element 47 to its dotted line position of Fig. 6.

For controlling operation of the valvemechanism 45, we provide circuit means includig a control switch 54 that is rigidly mounted within a box or housing 55 by means of a bracket 56, said housing 55 having a removable closure element 57, and being mounted on the bracket 6 by a mounting plate 58. The control switch 54 is of the Microswitch variety and is normally closed, said switch 54 having an operating button 59 which abuts a resilient finger 60 anchored at its upper end to the housing 55, as indicated at 61. The switch 54 is opened by movement of the finger 60 in a direction to move the operating button 59 toward the switch 54. The control switch 54 is adapted to be opened by an actuator in the nature of an axially elongated toothed pinion 62 having a screw threaded axial bore 63 extending therethrough and which screw threadedly receives a threaded mounting stud 64 that is anchored at its upper end to the housing 55, as indicated at 65, see Fig. 3. At its upper end, the actuator pinion 62 is provided with a radially :outwardlyprojecting lug 66 that is adapted to engage the lower end portion of the resilient finger 60 upon upward axial and rotary movement of the actuator pinion 62, to open the switch 54 and de-energize the solenoid 51. The lower end of the actuator pinion 62 isprovided with a second log 67 that is adapted to engage a stop finger 68 that is carried by an adjustable tubular member 69 mounted in a depending boss 70 of the housing 55 and screw threaded on the mounting stud 64. The stop finger is backed up. by a rubber-like cushion element or plate 71, said stop finger and cushioning element being mounted in a longitudinally extending slot 72 in the tubular member 69 and held in place by a conventional snap ring 73. The lower end portion ofthe tubular member 69 is knurled, as indicated at 74, so that the operator may easily grasp the same to screw the tubular member upwardly or downwardly on the stud 64 to adjust the limit of downward movement of theactuator pinion 62 for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. A generally cylindrical gauge block 75 is rigidly mounted on the lower end of themoun'ting stud 64, and is held against movements relative thereto by a end portion 36 rigidly secured to the auger sh'aft31 and its ion 62. An anchoring plate 101 is transverse pin or the like 76, see Fig. 4. The depending boss 70 is provided with a transverse aperture 77 which contains a fiber plug 78, the aperture 77 being screw threaded to receive a locking screw 79 which is utilized to press the plug 78 into frictional locking engagement with the tubular member 69 to lock the same in any desired set position.

Operating mechanism for the actuator pinion 62 to rotate the actuator pinion in a direction to move the same toward engagement of the lug 66 with the resilient switch operating finger 6t} involves a drive train now to be described. An endless link chain 89 is entrained over a sprocket wheel 81 fast on the drive shaft 33, and a second sprocket wheel 82 rigidly mounted on the upper end of a shaft 83 that is journalled in bearings 84, one of which is shown, mounted in a bearing box 85 integrally formed with the housing 55. A relatively small diameter gear or pinion 86 is pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 83, and has meshing engagement with a relatively large gear 87 that is rigidly mounted on a shaft 88 journalled in a bearing box 89 integrally formed with the housing 55. Rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 88 is a driving element 90 of an electrically operated clutch, indicated generally at 91, said clutch being of conventional type and including a stationary housing 92 that is supported by a bracket '93 rigidly secured to the interior of the housing 55. The clutch 91 further includes a driven element 94 that is rigidly secured to the upper end of a shaft 95 that is .journalled at its lower end portion in a bearing box 96 hence, further detailed showing and description thereof is omitted, in the interest of brevity. A toothed gear or pinion 97 is rigidly secured to the shaft 95 within the housing 55, and has meshing engagement with a larger diameter gear 98 that is journalled on a shaft 99 rigidly mounted in a supporting boss 100 of the housing 55 intermediate the shaft 95 and supporting stud 64 and parallel with both thereof. The gear 98 has meshing engagement with the teeth of the actuator pinion 62, and is so disposed relative thereto, and the axial length of the actuator pinion 62 is such, that meshing engagement is had between the gear 98 and actuator pinion 62 in all positions of longitudinal movement of the actuator pinrigidly mounted on the shaft 99 immediately above the boss 100, and the gear 98 is supported in upwardly spaced relation to the anchoring plate 101 by a bushing 102 on the shaft 99. The bushing 102 prevents axially downward movement of the gear 98, and a top collar 103 pinned or otherwise secured to the upper end of the shaft 99 prevents axially upward movement of the gear 98.

The above described drive train is so arranged that, during rotation of the drive shaft 33 and auger 30 in a direction to feed material downwardly through the discharge passage 12, and with the clutch 91 energized, the actuator pinion 62 will be rotated in a direction to cause axial movement thereof toward the control switch 54 to cause opening thereof by engagement of the lug 66 with the resilient switch operating finger 60. As will be hereinafter more fully described, when the control switch 54 is opened, the clutch 91 is de-energized to uncouple the 'driven clutch element 94 from the driving element 90.

or the spring 104 being secured to the gear 98 by an anchor pin 105, the outer end of the spring 104 being secured to the anchoring plate 101 by a second anchoring pin 106 see Figs. 3 and 5. The spring 104 is of such a length as to permit the gear 98 to rotate sufiiciently to move the actuator pinion 62 to its fullest length of travel on the mounting stud 64. During movement of the actuator pinion 62 toward the switch 54, the spring 104 becomes more tightly wound about the shaft 99 so that, when the clutch 91 is released, sufficient yielding bias is built up in the spring 4 to impart rotation to the gear 98 and parts connected therewith in a reverse direction to return the actuator pinion 62 to its opposite limit of travel wherein the stop lug 67 thereon engages the stop finger 68.

The electrical hook-up of the various electrically operated or controlled components of the instant device, such as the gate opening solenoid 23, the valve operating solenoid 51, the control switch 54 and the electrically operated clutch 91, is exemplified by the diagram of Fig. 7, reference being had thereto. As there shown, a relay 107 comprising a coil 108 and a pair of switches 109 and 110, has the coil 108 thereof interposed in a lead 111, in series with a momentary contact switch 112, the lead 111 being connected at its opposite ends to power leads 113 and 114 which may be assumed to be connected to a source of electrical potential, not shown. The control switch 54 is connected in series with the relay switch 110 .to provide a holding circuit for the relay coil 108, said holding circuit further including a portion of the lead 111 and a lead 115. The gate operating solenoid 23 and valve operating solenoid 51 are each controlled by the switch 109 through a portion of lead 115 and a lead 116, the solenoids 23 and 51 each being connected to the lead 116, and to the power conductor 114 by respective leads 117 and 118. The control switch 54 further forms one of the components of a circuit for the electromagnetically operated clutch 91, said circuit including a full wave rectifier 119 that is interposed in a lead 120 connected at one end to the power conductor 114 and at its other end to the lead 115 between its connection to the lead 111 and the switch 110. Thus, the rectifier 119 is initially energized by closing of the switch 112, and held energized through the serially connected switches 54 and 110. The electrically operated components, not shown, of the clutch 91 are connected to the rectifier 119 by leads 121 and 122, in the usual manner.

In operation, pulverulent material is fed to the interior of the hopper 7 through the chute 8, from the storage bin 9 at a predetermined rate of feed, by suitable feed mechanism not shown, to maintain the material in the hopper 7 at a predetermined approximate level, which level may be observed through a window or the like 7A in one side wall of the hopper 7, see Fig. 1. After a bag X has been mounted on the bag supporting arms 28 and 29, the switch 112 is closed to energize the relay 107. Energization of the relay 107 causes the switches 109 and 110 to be closed, whereby to simultaneously energize the solenoids 23 and 51 and rectifier 119 to set the electro magnetically operated clutch 91. The relay 107 is held energizedby its holding switch 110, the gate elements 13 and 14 are opened by the solenoid 23 and the valve element 47 is moved by the solenoid 51 to its full line position of Fig. 6 to permit fluid to flow through the motor 34 to rotate the feeding auger 30. As the feeding auger 30 rotates to feed material from the hopper 7 into the bag or container X, the actuator pinion 62 is rotated in a direction to cause movement thereof axially toward engagement of the lugs 66 with the control switch operating finger 60, or from its full line position of Figs. 3 and 4 toward its dotted line position thereof. The tubular member 69 which supports the stop member 68 is preset so that a predetermined number of feeding revolutions are imparted to the feeding auger 30 before the lugs 66 of the actuator pinion 62 engages the operating finger 60 to open the switch 54. As above indicated, opening of the normally closed control switch 54 breaks the holding circuit to the relay 107, and de-energizes the solenoids 23 and 51 and electromagnetic clutch 91 to simultaneously permit the valve element 47 to be moved to its dotted line position of Fig. 6 by the spring 53, the gate elements 13 and 14 to move to their gate closed position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and to permit the resetting spring 104 to rotate the gear 98 in a reverse direction to cause movement to be imparted to the actuator pinion 62 to its limit of movement 'away from closing engagement with the switch 54 and into engagement of the stop member 68 by the lugs 67 on the actuator pinion 62. The machine is now ready for initiation of a subsequent operating cycle.

It will be noted, with reference to Fig. 6, that when the valve element 47 is moved to its full line position of Fig. 6 by energization of the solenoid 51, a fluid circuit is complete from the reservoir through the pump, motor and valve, back to the reservoir, so that the motor 34 is in operation as long as the valve element 47 is in its full line position of Fig. 6. When the solenoid 51 is deenergized, the compression spring 53 moves the valve element 47 to its dotted line position of Fig. .6 ,to break the above mentioned fluid circuit between the motor and return flow to the reservoir. In its dotted line position of Fig. 6, the valve element 47 connects the conduit section 43 with the conduit 48, thereby diverting the fluid exhausted from the motor 34 back to the supply conduit 39 through the restrictor valve 50. The motor 34 then acts as a pump to circulate the fluid through the restrictor valve 50 until its kineticenergy has been dissipated and the motor 34 comes to rest. The rate of deceleration of the motor 34 is quite high, and can be controlled by varying the restriction in the restrictor valve 50. Further, with this arrangement, a high degree of uniformity and smoothness in stopping the motor 34, is obtained.

As above indicated, the switch 112 may be manually operated, or if desired, the same may be operated by any suitable mechanism operatively associated with other devices usually found in filling machines of the type set forth, such as bag feeding mechanism not shown. Thus, the above described filling mechanism may be easily incorporated in an entirely automatic bag feeding and filling machine.

Our novel structure, as above set forth, has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives hereinbefore mentioned; and, while we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of our device, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a container filling machine, a feeding hopper for pulverulent material and having a tubular discharge section at its lower end, a rotary feeding auger including a shaft extending axially within said discharge section for dispensing material therethrough from said hopper, a fluid pressure operated motor having a drive shaft directcoupled to said auger shaft above said discharge section, means including-a pump and valve mechanism fordelivering fluid under pressure to said motor, means including solenoid mechanism for operating said valve mechanism, a control switch for said solenoid mechanism, an axially elongated toothed actuator pinion for said control switch and having a screw threaded axial opening therethrough, an elongated fixed actuator mounting stud screw threadedly received in said axial opening whereby rotary movement of said pinion will impart axial movements thereto on said stud toward and away from said control switch to respectively open and close said switch, releasable driving and driven elements the former of which is operatively coupled to said drive shaft and the latter of which comprises a gear in meshing engagement with said pinion for imparting movement to said pinion in one direction to open said switch, whereby said valve mechanism is disposed by said solenoid mechanism to stop said motor upon completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of said auger and drive shaft, means journalling said gear for rotation with said pinion but holding said gear against common axial movement with said pinion, said pin-ion being of an axial length to be in meshing engagement with said gear in all positions of axial movement of said pinion, and actuator resetting means for'imparting like movements to said actuator pinion in the opposite direction responsive to actuation of said control switch by said actuator pinion and independently of said auger and drive shaft.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with an adjustable stop element mounted in the path of axial travel of said pinion to limit movement thereof in a direction away from said control switch and for adjustable movement in said direction of axial movement of the pinion whereby to vary the number of revolutions of said auger and drive shaft in a feeding cycle thereof.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said actuator resetting means comprises a spring element yieldingly urging said gear in a direction of rotation to cause movement of the actuator pinion away from said control switch upon release of said driven element from said driving element.

4. In a container filling machine, a feeding hopper for pulverulent material and having a tubular discharge section at its lower end, a rotary feeding auger including a shaft extending axially within said discharge section for dispensing material therethrough from said hopper, a fluid pressure operated motor having a drive shaft operatively coupled to said auger shaft, means including a pump and valve mechanism for delivering fluid under pressure to said motor, means including a solenoid for operating said valve mechanism, a. control switch for said solenoid, an actuator for said control switch, means mounting said actuator for movements toward and away from said-control switch to respectively open and close said switch, and operating mechanism for said actuator comprising, an electrically operated clutch including a driving element and a driven element, said driving element being operatively coupled to one of said shafts, means operatively coupling said driven elementto said actuator to drive the same in a direction to open said control switch responsive to engagement of said clutch elements, whereby said valve mechanism is disposed by said solenoid to stop said-motor upon completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of said auger and drive shaft, said clutch elements being disengaged responsive to opening of said control switch, and an actuator resetting device for imparting movement to said actuator in a direction to cause closing of said control switch responsive to disengagementof said clutch elements.

5. In a container filling machine, a feeding hopper for pulverulent material and having a discharge portion, a rotary feeding element disposed at said discharge portion for dispensing material from said hopper, a fluid operated motor having a drive shaft operatively coupled to said rotary feeding element, a fluid pump, a fluid delivery conduit extending from said pump to the intake portion of said'motor, a fluid reservoir, conduit means between said reservoir and the intake of said pump, return conduit means between the motor outlet and said reservoir, valve mechanism interposed in said return conduit means, a by pass conduit communicating with said delivery conduit and said valve and including fluid passage restrictor means, operating mechanism for said valve mechanism, a control device for said valve operating mechanism, an actuator for said control device, and operating mechanism for said actuator, said actuator operating mechanism he ing responsive to completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of said feeding element and drive shaft to cause operation of said valve operating mechanism to cut off return flow of fluid to said reservoir and permit flow of fluid from said motor through said by-pass conduit and said restrictor means.

6. In a container filling machine; a feeding hopper for pulverulent material and having a discharge portion; a rotary feeding element disposed at said discharge portion for dispensing material from said hopper; a fluid operated motor having a drive shaft operatively coupled to said rotary feeding element; a fluid pressure circuit including, said motor, a pump, and valve mechanism controlling delivery of fluid to said motor; a by-pass circuit including, said motor, valve mechanism, and a fluid flow restrictor device; operating mechanism for said valve mechanism; and a control device for said valve operating mechanism operatively coupled to said drive shaft; said control device being operative responsive to completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of said drive shaft and feeding element to cause said valve mechanism to shunt out a portion of said fluid pressure circuit and direct flow of fluid through said by-pass circuit, whereby to control deceleration of said motor.

7. In a container filling machine; a feeding hopper for pulverulent material and having a discharge portion; a rotary feeding element disposed at'said discharge portion for dispensing material from said hopper; a fluid operated motor having a drive shaft operatively coupled to said rotary feeding element; a fluid pressure circuit including, said motor, a pump, and valve mechanism controlling delivery of fluid to said motor; a by-pass circuit including, said motor, valve mechanism, and a fluid flow restrictor device; operating mechanism for said valve mechanism; a control device for said valve operating mechanism; an actuator for said control device; and operating mechanism for said actuator; said actuator operating mechanism being responsive to completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of said feeding element and drive shaft to cause operation of said valve-operating mechanism to direct flow of fluid through said by-pass circuit, whereby to control deceleration of said motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,888 Mateer Oct. 26, 1954 2,296,505 Diehl Sept. 22, 1942 2,532,913 Higgingbottom Dec. 5, 1950 2,643,026 Craig et a1 June 23, 1953 2,778,387 Diehl Jan. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 698,657 Great Britain 0ct.21, 1953 

